Machine for labeling bottles and the like



June 14, 1932. c. H. WILD 1,863,176

MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR UMM A TTORNEY June 14, 1932. c. H. WILD MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 14, 1932. c. H. WILD MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8,-1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 n N M T T A June 14, 1932. c. H. WILD 1,863,176

MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 can? ,ATTORNEY June 14, 1932. c. H. WILD MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR A TTO RNEY June 14, 1932. c w 1,863,176

MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 14, 1932. c, w 1,863,176

MACHINE FOR. LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE -Fi1ed May 8, 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet '7 June 14, 1932.

c. H. WILD 1,863,176

MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE [N VENTOR ATTORNEY 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 M June 14, 1932. c. H. WILD MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 June 14, 1932. c. H. WILD MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1930 16 shefits-sheet 10 June 14, 1932.

c. H. WILD 1,863,176

MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1950 16 Sheets-meet 11 abtozmq June 14, 1932. c. H. WILD MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 16 sheets-Sheet 12 Filed May 8, 1950 Iii 16 Sheets-Sheet l3 1 zaz 3mm M42 QQZ C. H. WILD June l4, 1932.

MACHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1930 C. H- WILD 3 E x L I B L II I llllll l I I June 14, 1932. C w 1,863,176

' MACHINE FOR. LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed May a, 1930 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 June 14, 1932. c. H. WILD MACHINE FOR LABELiNG BOTTLES AND- THE LIKE Filed May 8, 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet l6 Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics CHARLES H. WILD, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 BURT MACHINE COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CQRPORATION' OF MARY- LAND MAGHINE FOR LABELING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Application filed May a,

In the application of labels to bottles and similar containers by means of automatic machines, various difiiculties have been encountered.

The object of the invention is to overcome these difficulties and to improve the construction and operation of the various features and mechanisms of which the machines of this type are composed and to produce a 1 machine of increased eiiiciency.

lhe majority of the machines spot the bottle with paste at spaced points suitably located in regard to the pattern, size and in tended position of the labels which it is desired to apply, and it is exceedingly diiiicult or impossible to so alter the machine that labels of any widely different size or shape can be used and to adapt the machine'to the labeling of bottles of different sizes and shapes.

Also, in these previous machines on account of the manner of applying the paste and particularly on account of the quantity and consistency of the paste used, which has the effect of moistening the labels, and on account of the impounding of air between the label and the bottle surface, and for other 7 reasons it is difficult, if not impossible to give the finished product a neat and pleasing appearance.

Another difliculty is due to the tendency of the labels to slide and become displaced, and therefore, to be irregularly applied due to the action of the pressing mechanism which engages the labels after they are affixed to the bottles.

In the operation of the present machine the paste is applied by means of a single dauber or pad, the paste coated area corresponding exactly to the size and shape of the dauber. It is therefore feasible if any change in the pattern of the label is desirable, to merely change the pad or dauber, using one of the desired shape.

Further, the application of the paste, the application of the labels and the pressing of the labels in position are accomplished by so uniform and positive pressure, that a thin coating of paste containing very little moisture or fluid element can be used so that there Serial No. 450,725.

is very little tendency to moisten the label.

Another advantage of the present machine is that the entire area of the bottle to be covered by the label is paste coated so that the label is pasted at all points and when pressed in position in accordance with the operation of the present machine there is no tendency to wrinkle or pucker as there is no chance for the impounding of air.

The present machine also includes means whereby the tendency of the label to slip during the pressing operation is completely overcome and on account of the improved design and construction of the machine the speed of operation has been increased to 60 or 70 a minute handling the bottles single and to a considerably gr .ater speed where the bottles are handled in groups as described in connection with one form of the lustrated a machine embodying the invention in the preferred form.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation looking at the machine from the right hand side and showing the front end only i. e. the end at which the machine is fed, the rear or delivery end being broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the rear or delivery end of the machine which is broken away in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevationon larger scale showing the righthand or del1-.'81 Y end of the feed trough at the front of the machine and the adjacent portions of the cooperating members.

rigure a 1s a section on the larger scale transverse to the feed taken on the line i, i in Figure 1, looking to the right or forward.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the larger scale and on the line 5, 5 in Figure 1.

feed, thee Figure 6 is a top plan large scale View of machine, i.-e., the opposite sideto tha'tshown in Figure l. The location of the View is indicated by lines 8, 8 in Figure Figure 9 is a top plan View on the same scale of the portion of the, machine she in in Figure 8, toward the left in both Fgures 8 and 9.

Figure 10 is an elevation lookin at the machine from the left Figure 4 showing the opposite side of the machine frcm that shewn Figures land 2-, the portion shown being just beyondin the direction of the feed, the portion shown in Figures 8 and 9; Figure 11 is a top plan View of the 1301* tion of the mach-'in'e shown in Figure 10, the ebserverhein g on the'sid'e opposite to the side shows in Figures 1 and 2-; I Figure 12 is essence on the line 12, in Figure 9 lookingin the direction of the arrows, which is also the 'direct-ion oi the 1e oft-he figs-resting larger than that of Figi ire Figure' 13 is a to plaaview of the gates shown inF-igure 1 anel'the mechanism for "operating the same, the figure being on a reduced s'cale'is compared to Figure 12-.

"Figure leis-la section transverse tothe feed and oh enlarged scale, the same being t a kei'i on line 14:" 1 1 in Figure 11 looking to the observers left.

gu i'e 1 5 i's a fragmentary section on'the li ne'15, 15in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary section on {the 'l i-ne 1 5,16 Figure showing the paste dauber upsetting amend ronowes, the'ho'ri'z'onta-l projection of the paste dai iber ari n 'whieh is actually above the plane of the section being indicated i ifijdotted lijnes.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary p lan showing {the pastefidaube r cam and the allowa ce in the cam notch.

Figure 18 is a plan 0f the paste pot.

Figure 19 is a section through the paste pot 6h; the'l-i'he 1 9, 19 0i Figure 18. i

20 is an end elevation looking at a A label feed box of one type from the delivery Figure 21 is a fragmentary horizontal section tlri'ough the same on the line 21,21 of F ig ureQtl. Y V

Figure 22 is an elevation of the label-pack ing to Figure "20. "F i utre 28 is a section on the line 23, 23 of Figure 22, M 7

re 2458 an elevation oi a label pack comprising labels of the long narrow type.

the directionoi the feed being ternative arrangementofthe machine which is adapted to apply labels to both sides of each bottle simultaneously, the bottles being 7 fed and handled in turn.

Figure 30 is a corresponding view of amachine of this general type arranged to apply one label to one side of each of fem-bottles simultai-ieously, the bottles being fed in groups of four at a time. I

Figures' l and 32 are detail views of the label pressing'pad and centering mean-s.

Reierringto the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or 7 similar part sin the difi'erent figures,'the ma i'arly in the case of :tall bottles, the upper feed belt The machine also comprises spacing or releasing nech'anisni by which the spacing or rate of-feed-ing bottles to the pasting mechanism 5, label feeding and applying mechanism 16, and label pressing means '7 is regulated.

The teed'beltsS, l are in the form'of the invention shown drivenfrom the rear end of the machine, see Figures 1 and2, by means of an electric motor 10, connected at the will ofthe operator by means of a clutch 11 controlled by a clutch lever 12 to a worm 14 which Ines-hes with a worm Wheel 15. This worm wheel 15 in turn carries a small sprocle 'et 16 rotating about thesaine center. This sprocket-16 drives a 'chain 17, which enga and drives a sprocket 18'wl'1 ich, in turn, carries a sproclzetl-9 which drives'a chain which passes OWBI and drives a sprocket '20 shown at the rear of the machine. This sprocket carries'on'the shaft therewith a large passes over and engages aipulley 26iton a traverse'shaft'27 at the top of the machine at the rear end. Thissha ft 27 ca-r ries secured there- ;to a larger pulley28 'flwhic'l-i drives the top 'fee'd belt 3. The {main or lower feed belt 2 passes over an d iscari ie'dat the front endby a p'ul ley 29, and the top belt-'3'iscarried the front end 'o f t'he iach iii'e by a pulley 30.

Bet er-ring new tothe cross sections,

ures 4, l2 and 15, particularly Figure 12, it will be noted that the bottles are guided at the top and bottom by bottom guide strips 33, 33, on each side of the bottle, suitably supported on threaded uprights 34, being secured by means of nuts 35 and 36 above and below the arms or plates 37, which carry the bottom guide strips.

The upper or top guide ails 38, Figure 12, are shown as of angular cross section. They are supported on the threaded uprights 34, by means of narrow transverse strips or plates 39 secured to the studs 34 by means of nuts 40 above and 41 below the strips 39, it being understood that the uprights 34 are threaded throughout their length to receive the nuts 35, 36, 40 and 41, Which hold the supporting strips 37, 39 for the guides 33, 33, 38, 38. The studs 34 are supported at the bottom on transverse bars 42 secured to the table 43, which extends almost the entire length of the machine.

The top traverse of the bottom belt 2 rests and slides on the table 43 so that it carries the weight of the bottles as they are fed through the machine, it being understood that the bottles are fed between the top traverse of the bottom belt and the bottom traverse of the top belt. The top portion of the bottom belt is preferably supported by the table 43 throughout almost its entire length, see Figures 1 and 2, as well Figure 12, as

lready suggested. The bottles are fed to the belt 2 by hand or in any suitable or preferred manner, a trough 45 being provided. at the front or feed end of the machine to hold the bottles to be labeled and line them up for feeding prior to transferring them to the belt.

The bottom guide rails 33 begin at the front of the machine immediately adjacent the delivery end of the trough 45, see Figure 3, and the bottom of the trough as shown is formed of a thin metal plate 46, which projects from the trough in the direction of the feed which is to the right in Figures 1 and 3, the trough bottom 46 as it projects forwardly from the trough approaching and coming in contact, particularly at its forward end at 47 with the bottom feed belt 2. The top plate 48 of the table 43 as shown is deflected downwardly at the front of the machine adjacent the top of the pulley 29, and the depressed forward end of this plate 48 underlies and contacts and receives the lower feed belt 3 at a point just beneath the delivery end pen tion of the trough bottom 46.

In feeding the bottles to the machine, Figures 1 to 28, they are lined up in the trough 45 with the sides which are to receive the labels at the right of the operator facing the machine and toward the observer in Figure 1, the trough being of a width adapting it to lit the transverse dimension of the bottles, i. e., at right angles to he surface which receives the labels of the bottles being treated. T 0 this end the troughs are made interchangeable or adjustable in width, bolts 45 fitting in suitable transverse slots.

In feeding, the trough being filled with bottles or containing bottles which are lined up, each in contact with the one next forward in the direction of feed, these bottles are gradually pushed forwardly until those at the front of the column pass in the direction of feed over the end 47 of the trough bottom plate 46, contacting at this time both the lower and upper feed belt, though the latter is not always regarded as necessary. It will be observed that the end 47 of the trough bottom 46 is just below the bottom horizontal tangent oint of the top belt pulley 30 so that the bottles are when both belts are used, engaged simultaneously at the top and bottom by top belt 3 and bottom belt 2. The bottles as they move forward are checked by the action of the spacing or releasing mechanism 4, which releases at suitable intervals thus spaced, the bottles which have been fed and which are lined up on the feed belt awaiting their turn, each bottle as it comes to the foremost position being at the proper time released and permitted to pass along the belt to the pasting and otl er labeling mechanisms. The spacing and releasing mechanism is so timed in relation to the belt, that it releases the bottles one at a time or by twos or in groups as described in connection with the other forms of the machine, Figures 29 and 30, at suitable intervals depending upon the speed of the belt or belts and thus spaces them apart by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the pasting mechanism, the label feeding and aliixing mechanism and pressing mechanism respectively.

This spacing or releasing mechanism 4 is more fully illustr ted in Figures 12- and 13. It consists primarily of cut off gates 44 and stop and spacing gates 56. To support and operate these gates, the machine is provided with two oppositely moving transverse slides 57, 58, which move in trai'isverse ways 59, 60, formed in the table 43 beneath the table top 48. The slide 58 beyond the slide 57 in the direction of the feed. The slide 57 carries one of the cutoff gates one of the stop and releasing gates 56 and the slide 58 carries he other cutoff gate 55 and the other releasing gate 56". The cutoff gates 55 are carried respectively by upright 61 mounted in a fore and aft slot 62 in one end of the slide 57 and by an upright 63 mounted in a slot- 64 in the opposite end of the slide 58.

The releasing and spacing gates 56 and 56 are carried by the upright stud 65 in the op posite end of the slide 57 from the stud 61 already referred to and by the upright stud 66 in th end of the slide 58 opposite to that carrying the stud 63. The gates are supporteasily understood.

ed on suitablethreaded arms 67, 68, 69, and are made adjustable at right angles to the feed by means of suitable abutment and lock nuts 71, 7 2 on each side of the respective uprights 61, 63, 65, 66. The arms 67, 68, 69, 70 are straight or offset as the function of each as described. requires, and as shown in plan, Figure 13. The respective pairs of cutoff gates and stop and spacing gates 55, 56 are operated simultaneously, and the respective pairs oppositely by means of said slides which are moved oppositely and simultaneously. by means of a double crank 7 4. This crank is pivotally mounted at on the table and is provided with two oppositely projecting arms 76, 77, which are slotted in the direction of their length to engage the depending pins 78 and 79 carried by the. transverse guides 59' and 60, respectively.

The double crank 74 is operated by means of a cam 80 on the longitudinal shaft 81 which is driven, see Figure 1, by means of bevel gear 82, carried by the sprocket l8 previously described, which bevel gear 82 meshes with a second bevel gear '83 on said longitudinal or cam shaft 81. J The cam 80 oper'ates a follower 8 1, Figure 8, carried by a slide 85 which moves in longitudinal guides 86. This slide 85 operates a spring bolt 87., which slides through a lug 88 on said longitudinal slide. This spring bolt 87 V is encircled by helical springs 89, 90, which bear on opposite sides of said lug 88 and on abutments shown in the form of nuts 90 and 91 on said bolt 87, which bolt is threaded to carry the nuts. In this way the operation of the cam as applied to the spring bolt 87 is cushioned, making the action of the gates a yielding one as hereinafter described. The spring bolt 87 is connected to the double crank 74 by means of a crank pin carried on a lug or third crank arm 101. The alternate operation of the slides 57, 58 with the consequent alternate operation of the pairs of gates 55, 56, each slide carrying one of each said gates, as thus described, will be The cutoff gates 55 close as the releasing gates 56 open and woe versa. In this way each bottle 1n turn 1s stopped by gates 56 and held until the belt 2 or belts 2 and 3 have moved sufficiently to leave the proper interval between the bottles.

It is of interest to note that the adjacent edges, i. e., the edges toward the center of to cause it to start moving with the belt and eliminate any. tendency forthe bottle to tip backward. The gates are so timed that gates 56 release as gates 55 close, thus advancing the'bottle released and cutting off the line of bottles behind.

As the bottles move through the machine from the releasing and spacing "mechanism 4, they are presented to the pasting mechanism 5, the labelingmechanism 6 and the pressing mechanism 7,' which mechanisms taken collectively operate simultaneously on three bottles suitably spaced along the belt and ways. To this end these respective mechanisms 5, 6 and 7 are mounted on a carriage 101, which is reciprocated transversely to the beltor ways bringing said mechanisms 5, 6 and 7 into operative relation with the bottles on the ways at the return end of each complete stroke, i. e., as the carriage approaches the ways, and the bottles are spaced along the belt to correspond to the spacing of mechanisms 5, 6 and 7.

This carriage 101 is shown in horizontal section in Figure 5 and in top plan in Figure 6, and vertical section in Figure 7. It is mounted on transverse ways 102 rigidly mounted on the stationary portion of the machine frame and is actuated by a crank pin .103 carried by crank discs 104 on the cam shaft to longitudinal shaft 81. The carriage makesone complete stroke for each bottle or group of bottles fed through the machine, the group feed being later described.

Before discussing the paste coating, labelingan'd presser mechanisms carried by the carriage 101, it is of interest to note the manner of holding the bottles at each station during the corresponding paste coating, labeling and pressing operations. The bottle holding or clamping mechanism is best understood from the plan View, Figure 11, the position of the observer in said view being opposite to that of the observer in Figure 1, so that the feeding motion is from right to left instead of from left "to right as in Figure 1.

At the operating. stations the bottles are held by means of clamping pads 105, 106 (see Figure 9) and 107, 108, 109, 110. These 7 clamping members or pads are carried by corresponding clamping arms 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, which swing about upright shafts 111, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117, on each of which shafts 111, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117 is mounted a corresponding toothed are 118, 119, 120,

121, 122 and 12 1.

The shafts 111, 112, 11 1, 115, 116, 117 are oscillated and the bottle engaging pads 105 v to 110 are swung through a suitable arc to bring them into engagement with the bottles and return them to the retracted position shown by means of a sliding rack 125, which is best shown in plan, Figure 11. This rack is toothed on both of its side edges 125and 125", and slides longitudinally of the machine. Theteeth on the side adjacent the'observer in Figure 11 engage directly with the teethof the segments 119, 120, 122 on this 

